Iran’s Ministry of Health: Coronavirus Claims 43 Healthcare Workers

According to the spokesperson of Iran’s Ministry of Health, as of the sixth day of Farvardin, 43 members of Iran’s healthcare and medical staff have died from coronavirus infection. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Iran increased by more than 2,200 in a single day, surpassing the 27,000 mark.

Kianush Jahanpour, spokesperson and head of the Ministry of Health’s media center, appeared via video conference on Wednesday morning, the sixth of Farvardin, answering journalists’ questions about developments in the spread of the new coronavirus in Iran.

According to ISNA news agency, Jahanpour stated regarding the latest statistics of COVID-19 deaths among healthcare personnel: “Our esteemed doctors, nurses, and paramedical colleagues are on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus. Unfortunately, 43 of them have so far lost their lives in this struggle.”

Expressing regret over the loss of these members of the country’s healthcare and medical staff, he noted that “this figure is lower compared to statistics from other countries.”

The Ministry of Health’s spokesperson announced a move toward more targeted “coronavirus detection” and said that instead of waiting for patients to come forward, health officials would conduct home visits to identify infected individuals.

Jahanpour also stated: “Of course, we need more diagnostic kits. In this regard, a number of knowledge-based companies have successfully produced these kits, and after obtaining approval from the Pasteur Institute and the Food and Drug Administration’s Medical Equipment Department, they will soon begin mass production.”

The Health Ministry spokesperson then, following the usual procedure of the ministry in recent days, presented the latest statistics on newly identified coronavirus cases and deaths in the 24-hour period ending at noon on the sixth of Farvardin.

Unprecedented and Sharp Increase in Cases in a Single Day

According to Jahanpour, during this time period, 2,206 new confirmed cases of coronavirus were identified in Iran. This number of new cases in a single day was unprecedented and represented a sharp increase compared to previous days.

Based on the latest official statistics from the Ministry of Health, with the newly identified cases included, a total of 27,017 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus have been registered in Iran so far.

According to these statistics, 143 patients with COVID-19 died in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll from coronavirus in Iran to 2,077 as of the sixth of Farvardin.

The sharp rise in coronavirus cases continues despite Hassan Rouhani, the President, claiming at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting that Iran has passed through the first wave of coronavirus. However, he warned: “Another wave may lie ahead of us in the coming days, and we must manage that as well.”

Rouhani’s Claim About Passing the First Wave

Talking about the “first wave” of coronavirus spread in Iran and passing through it is not accurate, and official statistics do not support it. From the beginning of Esfand when coronavirus statistics were first announced until now, the number of cases has shown significant fluctuations.

For example, the number of confirmed cases on the 16th of Esfand was reported as 1,234 people, more than double the previous day. Three days later, the official statistics showed the number of cases had fallen to less than half that amount.

The highest number of new cases last month was on the 24th of Esfand with 1,365 cases. During that month, there were three instances when the number of cases fell somewhat after peaking.

In the new year, the lowest number of new cases was reported on the second of Farvardin, with fewer than 1,000 cases. Since that date, new cases have been increasing every day.

Given this trend, it is unclear how the expanding wave of coronavirus spread that began on the second of Farvardin will develop in the coming days. Rouhani’s comments about the possibility of another wave of coronavirus spread and warnings from experts about increased cases upon the return of Nowruz travelers to major cities make the situation appear concerning.

Possibility of “Catastrophic Acceleration” of Cases

The “Scientific Team of the Voluntary Quarantine Initiative Movement” in an article published by ISNA on the 29th of Esfand, noting that the peak of the coronavirus epidemic has not yet been observed and the rapid pace of infection and death continues, concluded that given Nowruz travels, “there is a strong possibility that the epidemic will accelerate catastrophically during the second to fourth weeks of Farvardin.”

Alireza Zali, head of the coronavirus control task force in Tehran, on the third of Farvardin, expressed regret that patients seeking treatment at medical centers “are in worse condition” and the recovery rate has declined, stating: “Without a doubt, the return wave of travelers to Tehran will worsen this situation.”

One day later, Zali complained that millions of people traveled for Nowruz despite warnings, saying: “Many of those infected with coronavirus have mild symptoms and are unaware of the disease, and through their travels, they are putting themselves and those around them at death’s door. The return of these individuals is also concerning.”

According to a report by Khabaronline, Karim Hamtai, acting head of the Red Crescent Society, announced on the fourth of Farvardin that over the past few days, more than eight and a half million people from 19 provinces have traveled, among whom 6,500 people were identified with symptoms of coronavirus infection such as fever.

Following the inattention of some citizens to medical advice about refraining from travel and unnecessary trips and being in crowded environments, at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, measures such as preventing new travels and closing parks and large shopping centers were put on the agenda to be implemented starting Thursday.

Source: DW